Feathering- paddle-wheel



NPETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICH. WILLIAMS AND SAML. WILSON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FEATHERING PADDLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,707, dated June 12, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RICHARD VILLIAMS and SAMUEL VrLsoN, of the city of Buffalo and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feathering Paddle-Vheels; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, in which- Figure I, is a side elevation, (partly in section) of our improved wheel. Fig. II is a transverse section of same. Fig. III is a plan of stationary central hub, or core.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

A, represents a stationary central hub or core which may be made wholly of iron or partly of iron and partly of wood. It is made f ast to,and supported upon the stationary shaft B, which shaft is firmly held in place, by means of the set screw c. Cam grooves are' made in` the surface of this hub, in which the crank pin of the paddle shaft works, in order to effect the feathering of the paddle. These cam grooves are shown atcZ, d, F ig.-III and the crank and crank pin at, g, Figs. I and II.

E represents the paddle; F, paddle shaft; g, crank pin, which works in the cam groove in the stationary hub; H H1 H2, cylindrical drum to which the arms, I of the wheel are firmly attached by bolts, screws, or otherwise, and which revolves around the stationary core A. (The head or hub H1 of this drum has a journaled bearing, and revolves upon the stationary shaft, 13,) while the hub H2 is made fast to the shaft, J, which shaft revolves, having` a journal bearing at K. A clear space is left between this drum,

and the stationary core as shown in Fig. II to allow room for the crank on the end of the paddle shaft.

The hubs H1 H2 may be made of cast or of wrought iron, and the face, H, should be made of strips or sheets of wrought iron, bolted, screwed, or otherwise made fast to the heads or hubs H1 H2, so that the parts H H1 H2 when connected together as a whole,

form a hollow, cylindrical drum, which supports the arms and frame work of the wheel.

The shaft J reaches across the boat and in a similar manner connects with the opposite wheel. The revolving shaft J, has a journal chamber in its end, which runs upon a journal on the contiguous end of the stationary shaft, B, as shown at, Z, Fig. II, so that the two virtually form a compound continuous shaft, one part of which is stationary, and the other part revolving.

M, IWI, are circular metallic rims which are bolted to the arms, I, as shown at c; N, cross pieces which connect the rims together and upon which the paddle shafts are supported, said shafts having appropriate journal -bearings therein for the easy movement of the paddle shaft as shown at s. (The paddle shaft passes through the drum H, and has a journal bearing therein as shown at t). The crank pin works in the cam groove shown at g.

Operation: Steam power is applied in a common manner, which causes the wheel to revolve around the stationary core A. The cam grooves of the stationary hub have a definite action upon the crank of the paddle shaft, and are so formed, and proportioned, that as the wheel revolves, the crank pin of each paddle will slide through the cam groove, thereby acting upon the paddle shaft in a manner to cause the paddles to enter the water edgewise and gradually open in the water, and leave the water edgewise and pass through the air edgewise, thus effecting a perfect feathering of the paddle.

We claim the stationary cam grooved core A, in combination with the crank shaft of the paddle, and revolving cylindrical drum H H1 H2 for the purpose substantially as herein described.

l/Ve also claim in combination with the above the arangement of the stationary shaft B, revolving shaft, J, and drum heads or hubs H1 H2 substantially as set forth.

RICHARD WILLIAMS. SAML. VILSON. Witnesses:

THos. HowLAND, M. N. JONES. 

